Ending homelessness, one congregation at a time

Never has it been easier for synagogues and churches in Portland to connect to homeless families and help them transition into housing.

We're not saying that this work is easy or can be undertaken lightly. Of course not. But never have Portland congregations had more expert guidance at their elbow, more support or more innovative options to select if they are drawn to this work.

Recently, the city of Portland embarked on a pilot project inviting churches to provide a temporary sleeping space in their parking lots for homeless people in cars.

Thirteen churches, thus far, have expressed interest. Although none has made a firm commitment -- it takes time for such a proposal to percolate through a congregation -- churches and synagogues that go in this direction will likely have a nonprofit partner that advises and steers them.

Meanwhile, some 14 groups representing Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths have been looking at putting up $800 a month for three months to sponsor a homeless family in housing. This initiative, called the Covenant of Hope project and organized by the nonprofit agency JOIN, will offer a training Sunday.

By Monday, enough congregations had committed for JOIN's Paul Schroeder to say six families will likely move into housing over the next month or so. Some churches have chosen to divvy up the work, with one putting up the money and the other offering volunteers to be trained to help the family.

Given the array of faiths involved, it's possible to imagine these volunteers forming a new Portland steering council -- an Interfaith Cabinet on Ending Homelessness.

At the same time, the Bud Clark Commons, the homeless access resource center that opened last year, has also made it much easier for churches to parachute in and put together a dinner for the homeless.

Synagogues and churches have long formed the backbone of charitable service in Portland, of course, so it will come as no surprise that some are preparing to get more involved. "Right now, there's a new energy about this," the Rev. Chuck Currie, long a mainstay of working with the homeless in Portland, said Monday. "Part of this is the times are so extraordinarily difficult."

Governments are strapped, and social service agencies are looking to stretch their resources, too. When Currie helped to launch a shelter in Goose Hollow 18 years ago, there was no manual for doing it. Today, people who want to get involved can draw on years of community experience.

But Currie warns that this work cannot be outsourced to churches. Far from it. The faith community can only do its share. Every level of government has a role to play. Making the best use of churches and other volunteers requires the city and county to be smart and strategic.

Sadly, homelessness will never be solved, one church at a time -- although one family's homelessness might be. But helping is no longer a do-it-yourself project. No congregation has to go it alone.